Carton filler



A. S. ROSE CARTON FILLER Oct. 9, 1956 Filed March 24. 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

A. s. ROSE CARTON FILLER Get. 9, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 24, 1955 INVENTOR.

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CARTON FILLER Filed March 24, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 yU/SO 5 42 MA 5/ 44 40 z /74 /57 I88 INVENTOR.

11622 5', Rose H/s A TTORNEY United States Patent CARTON FILLER Allen S. Rose, San- .lose, Calif. Application March 24,1953, Serial No. 344,289

14 Claims. (CI. 53-63) The present invention relates to a carton filler, and pertains more particularly to a mechanism for inserting a plurality of cans in laterally aligned relation into atubular, open-ended carton.

In my co-pending application, Serial No. 257,057, filed November 19, 1951, is shown a machine of the same general character as that embodying the present invention. The. carton feeding, erecting and transferring mechanismdisclosed in said co-pending application is identical with that employed with the present carton filling mechanism and such portions of the carton feeding and erecting mechanism as are illustrated in the accompanying drawingswill be referred to only briefly herein.

The cartons which the mechanism of the present invention are designed to fill are of a well known, so called chime lock type comprising a rectangular tubular body portion which is capable of being collapsed flat, and which has a pair of semi-circular ears on each. end. thereof. These ears are of slightly smaller radius than. the cans with. which the carton is to be filled, so as. to. fit into the chimes at the ends of the outermost cansin the carton to retain them in position therein. The carton is of. a cross sectional size and shape, when erected, closely to receive the cans therein.

In insertingv the charge of cans into the open ends of a carton of this type, the semi-circular carton. ears are tucked into the cartons to, lie flat against the carton Walls to which they are attached. The resilient. action of the cardboard from which the carton is made tends to. urge the ears, when released, inwardly into chime locking position with the outermost cans. Theoutermost cansproject approximately one-half their width beyond the ends of the cartons.

The present invention contemplates the provisionof an improved mechanism for filling a carton with cans. The invention also provides improved mechanism for positioning and advancing an erected carton for the insertion therein of a predetermined charge of cans. It is further proposed to provide improved can feeding and inserting mechanism for a carton filler. Another object is. to, pro.-

vide improved carton ear tucking and can handling: means for a. carton filling mechanism.

These and other objects and advantages-f the invention will be apparent from the following description andv the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a carton filling mechanism embodying the present invention, portions, thereof being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a carton of the typeemployed with the present mechanism, the carton being shown in flat folded condition.

Fig. 3 is a vertical. transverse sectional view through the can inserting head portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1, portions being broken away.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the carton shown in Fig. 2 as it appearswhen erected.

Fig. 5'isa fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

2,765,603 Patented Oct. 9, 195,6

. 2 Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken along line 6.-6 of Fig. 3'. I

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic sectional, view showing sub:

stantially the same structure as that shown in Fig; 3', the

mechanisms for tucking in the carton ears being shown in their centrally inward or actuated positions. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view similar to Fig. 7 with the can inserting rams moved to their innermost or can loading position. v i l v Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic horizontal sectional view take'r'i as along line 9-9 of Fig 7.

General description Briefly, the machine comprises a carton magazine 20 of the type shown and described in my co-pending applitime, from the lower end of the stack bya vacuumtakeoff mechanism (not shown) andare erected to the condition shown in Fig. 4' by the mechanism illustrated and described in my co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 257,057.

The cartons 21 when withdrawn from the magazine 20 and erected, are directed into a guideway 22 (Fig. l) by carton propelling fingers- 23 and 24, mounted on upper and lower chains 27 and 28 respectively. The fingers 23- and 24 propel the cartons 21 along through the guideway- 22 to the standby position at the entrance to a can inserting head A asshown bythe lefthand carton 21w in Fig. 6. At this point the propelling fingers 23 and- 24 are swung upwardlyand' downwardlyrespectively, clear of the carton as their chains travel. around their respective drive sprockets 29' and 30 From this standby positionin timed relation with thefeeding of cartonsby the fingers The illustrated. machine has, a main frame; 32 of con--' ventional angle and. channel iron members. welded. or bolted together. The frame 32 includes apair of longitudinally extending side. frame members 33, 33 and supportinglegs 34, 34. Thecarton magazine20 for support.-

ing a. stack of. flat-folded chime-lock cartons 21 of the well known type shown. in Figs. 2 and 4, is mounted at one endof' the machine.

The cartonguideway 22 (Figs. 1, 3 and 6),.for guidingthe erected cartons as. they are propelled along through the machine, terminates at the can inserting head A as. shown in Fig. 6. A pair of carton support bars 37,37 are mounted with their upper surfaces co-extensive with the bottom of the cartonv guideway 22, to support the cartons, 21 as they are. advanced through the can inserting head A. A. similar pair of'carton guidebars 38, 38,-(Figs. 1 and 3), are mounted in longitudinal alignment with. the top of the guideway 22. to retain the. cartonsagainst up wardv displacement as they are moved through the caninserting. head.

The can inserting head A has a frame which includes a pair of transversely extending bottom frame. members 39 and 40 (Figs. 1, 3., 6, 7,8 and9). and two respectively aligned pairs 41', 41 and 42,. 42; of shorter, transversely extending top frame members; The lower frame members machine to receive an upper carton advancing mecha;

nism 43 therebetween (Fig. 6).

The lower transverse frame members 39 and 40 are provided on their inner faces with grooved tracks 44, 44 (Figs. 3 and 6) for supporting two can inserting members and two carton ear tucking members, both of which will be described later herein. The upper transverse frame members 41, 41 and 42, 42 also are provided with grooved tracks 45, 45 (Fig. 3) along their inner faces to provide support for the upper ends of these same can inserting and ear tucking members.

Two longitudinally extending upper cam track plates 47, 47 (Figs. 1, 3 and6) for supporting and actuating the upper carton advancing mechanism 43 are secured one across the inner ends of each pair of upper transverse head frame members 41 and 42. A U-shaped plate 48 is secured to the upper edges of the upper cam track support plates 47, 47 to hold them in accurately spaced, parallel relation.

Two lower cam track support plates 49, 49 (Figs. 3 and 6) for mounting and actuating a lower carton advancing mechanism 46 are mounted on supports, not shown, in inwardly offset relation to the longitudinal main frame members 33. The specific structure of these upper and lower cam support and actuating plates and the cam arrangements mounted thereon will be described later herein in connection with the carton advancing mechanism which they control.

Upright corner posts 51, 51 are provided one at each of the four external corners of the can inserting head A, and longitudinally extending frame members 52 and 53 (Figs. 1 and 3) are provided at the upper and lower ends, respectively, of each pair of said corner posts. Two upright support posts 54, 54 (Figs. 1 and 6) are secured to extend from the main frame 32 to the inner end of each forward upper transverse frame member 42, 42.

For providing journal support for a plurality of drive and crank shafts, two upright bearing support members 56 and 57 (Figs. 1, 3 and 6) are provided, one on each side longitudinal main frame members 33 within the can inserting head A.

Each bearing support member comprises a pair of upright bars 58 (Fig. 6) with their upper ends secured together by cross bars 59 bolted thereto. A plurality of ball bearings 60, 61, 62 and 63 (Figs. 1, 3 and 6) are mounted on these bearing support members in QPP SiteIy aligned pairs to journal from top to bottom (Fig. 6) an upper carton advance crank 64, an upper carton propelling chain shaft 65a, lower carton propelling chain shaft 67, and a lower carton'advance crank 68.

Two bracket plates 70, 70 (Figs..3 and 6) for supporting a pair of pneumatic cylinders 71, 71 for actuating the can-inserting ram members 72, 72 to be described later herein, are secured to the forward face of the lower transverse frame member 39 (Figs. 3 and 6) to extend upwardly therefrom. The cylinder'mounting brackets 70, 70 are spaced apart at equal distances from the longitudinal vertical mid-plane of the'machine, and are located centrally inwardly beyond the paths of movement of a pair of carton ear tucking members 74, 74 also to be described later herein.

For mounting a second hydraulic cylinder 75, employed for actuating the ear tucking members 74, 74, two transverse frame members 77 and 78 (Fig. 3) extend across the rear sides of the frame legs 34, 34. The lower 77 of these transverse frame members supports the pneumatic cylinder 75 for actuating the ear tucking members 74, while the upper transverse frame member 78 supports a guide plate 79 for the piston rod 75a of the pneumatic cylinder 75.

The drive mechanism for the illustrated machine, other than the pneumatic cylinders which will be described later herein, comprises a plurality of drive chains and sprockets. These drive chains are generally similar to those described in my copending application, Serial No. 257,057, but distinguished therefrom in the following manner.

broken'pitch lines in Fig. 6, are mounted on the shafts A sprocket 80 and a double sprocket 81, indicated by 6511 and 67 respectively (Fig. 6) and are driven in opposite directions by a conventional roller chain 82. The chain 82 also passes around a sprocket 83 on the upper crank shaft 64. A lower sprocket 84 is driven by a short chain 82a from the other half of the double sprocket 81 from that driven by the chain 82.

The ratio between the sprockets 80 and 81 on the carton propelling chain shafts 65a and 67 respectively, and the sprockets 83 and 84 on the upper and lower crank shafts 64 and 68, respectively, is such as to cause the crank shafts 64 and 68 to rotate one complete revolution during the interval between the passage of two successive carton propelling fingers 23 or 24 on one or the other of the carton propelling chains 27 or 28 past a given point.

A pair of draper type can conveyor belts 85, 85 (Figs. 1, 3 and 9) are mounted one along each side of the machine, and are driven by conventional sprockets, not shown, mounted on the lower carton propelling chain shaft 67 to feed a double column of cans 87 into each side of the can inserting head A of the machine. The can conveyor belts 85, 85 are driven at a constant speed. When the cans thereon are arrested, in a manner to be described later herein, the conveyors 85, 85 slide beneath the cans in a manner customary in the art of can handling.

Carton advancing mechanism As each successive carton is propelled in erected condition along the guideway 22 by the carton propelling fingers 23 and 24, as mentioned previously herein, and reaches the terminal end of the guideway 22, it is pushed endwise beyond the reach of the fingers 23 and 24 (Fig. 6) as these fingers are swung upwardly and downwardly, respectively, around their respective drive sprockets 29 and 30. At this point in its travel through the machine, indicated by numeral 21a, the carton may be considered as being in a standby position, ready to be advanced into carton receiving position.

A spring pressed pawl 88 (Fig. 6) is mounted on each upper carton guide bar 38 in position to drop down behind the upper rear corner of the carton as it thus is pushed beyond the reach of the propelling fingers 23 and 24. These pawls 88 resist the natural tendency of the carton to return to the Hat folded condition it was in when in the magazine 20.

Each carton retaining pawl 88 (Fig. 6) comprises one arm of a bell crank lever 89 pivotally mounted on each upper carton guide bar 38. A light coil spring 90 surrounds a pin 91 pivotally connected to the other arm of the bell crank lever 89 from the pawl 88. This spring 90 is held in compression between a nut 92 screwed onto the pin 91 and a bracket 93 secured to the upper carton guide bar 38 to urge the pawl 88 downwardly into carton retaining position. The bias exerted on the pawl 88 by the coil spring 90 is very light, so that the pawl may easily be displaced forwardly and upwardly by each carton as it is moved forwardly into the standby position shown at 21a in Fig. 6. V

A second pair of similar spring pressed pawls 94 is mounted to project downwardly from the upper carton guide bar 38 to retain the carton in the righthand or can receiving position indicated by the numeral 21b (Fig. 6). Similar pawls 97, 98 and 99 also are provided on the lower carton supporting bars 37 to engage the from lower corner of the car-ton in the standby position 21a, and to engage both the front and rear lower corners of the carton in the can receiving position 21b of Fig. 6.

For advancing the carton 21 from its standby position shown at 21a in Fig. 6, to its righthaud, can-receiving position shown in 21b in Fig. 6, the two cam controlled, crank actuated carto'n advance members 43 and 46 are provided. The upper carton advancing member 43 comprises an angularly bent metal strip 101 secured by screws 102, 102 to a support member 103. The shanks of the screws 102, 102 pass through longitudinally slotted openings provided therefor in the bent strip 101 to permit longitudinal adjustment of this strip relative tothe support member. The support member 103 is secured to the lower end of a lift rod 104 which is mounted for vertical slidable movement in a hole provided therefor in a carriage block 105.

The carriage block 105 is supported by a pair of rollers 107, 107 on each side thereof. The rollers ride in longitudinally extending slotted tracks 108 (Fig. 6) provided in the inner face, and along the upper side, of each of the upper can; track plates 47, 47 referred to previously herein. The upper carriage block 105 is propelled reciprocally of the slotted tracks 108 by the upper crank shaft 64 by means of a longitudinally adjustable connecting link 109.

The link 109 comprises an elongated body portion 110 with bearing eyes 111 and 112 screwed into opposite ends thereof and secured in adjusted position therein by locknuts 113 and 114, respectively. The forward bearing eye 111 isjournaled on a pin 115 mounted to extend between pair of abutments 117 on the upper side of the carriage wlock 1135, while the rearward bearing eye 112 is journaled on the throw 118 of the upper crank shaft 64, which, as explained previously herein, is journaled in the bearings 60 (Fig. 6).

For alternately elevating and lowering the upper carton advancing strip 101 at predetermined stages of its forward and rearward travel by means of the crank shaft 64, a lift block 119 is pivotally mounted on a downwardly extending abutment 120 (Fig. 6) on the rear end of the carriage block 1.05. The rear end of the lift block 119 is notched out at 121 to receive the downwardly extending abutment therein.

An elongated hole 122 is provided in the lift block 119 of a size to receive the lift rod 104 slidably therein, and to permit free tilting movement of the lift block relative to the lift rod 104. For providing a lifting connection between the lift block 119 and the lift rod 104, a notch 123 is provided in the side of the lift rod and a plate 124 is secured by a screw 125 to the upper side of the lift block. The plate 124 extends into the notch 123 to raise the rod 104 upon an upward tilting movement of the forward end of the lift block. For tilting the lift block 119, cam follower rollers 127 are provided, one on each side of the forward end of the lift block, and these rollers ride in a horizontal U-shaped cam track 128 provided on the inner face of each of the upper cam plates 47, 47 below the carriage block tracks 108 therein.

A tilting roller elevator lever 129 is pivotally mounted at the forward end of an island 13% which forms the central portion of each U-shaped cam track 128. The portion of the lever 12% forwardly of its pivot 131 is of greater weight than the portion thereof rearwardly of the pivot, so that the lever 129 normally tilts by gravity to its forwardly and downwardly inclined position shown in Fig. 6. The forward or lower end of the deflector lever 129 is beveled to fit flush against the lower edge of the U-shaped track 123 when the lever is in its downwardly inclined position. The lever 129 lies in the path of the lift block rollers 127 as they roll along the lower run of the track 128. During a rearward movement of the carriage block 105 from its position shown in Fig. 6, the lift block rollers 127 engage the deflector levers 129' and will ride upwardly on the levers 129, thereby swinging the lift block 119 in a counterclockwise direction around its pivot 132 to elevate the lift rod 104 together with the support member 103 and the bent carton engaging strip 101 mounted thereon.

The lift rod 194 will remain in its elevated position until the lift block rollers 127 reach the rear end of the U-shaped cam track 128, at which time they will ride downwardly by gravity around the bight portion 128a of the cam track 12%, thereby tilting the lift block 119 in a clockwise direction about its pivot 132. and lowering 6 the upper carton engaging strip 101 to the position indicated at 1411a in Fig. 6. The strip 101 will remain in its lowered position during the forward travel of the lift block rollers 127 along the lower runs of the U-shaped tracks 128, returning, at the forward end of the carriage stroke. to their starting position shown in solid lines in Fig. 6.

The lower carton advancing member 46 (Fig. 6) has a carriage block L105, a lift block L119, and a link L109 connecting the lower carriage block L to the lower crank shaft 68, all generally similar to correspondingly numbered parts without the prefix L of the upper carton advancing member 43. Rollers L127 on the lower lift block 119 ride in U-shaped tracks L128 which are provided in the inner faces of the lower cam track plates 19, 49 above the lower carriage tracks L108. These lower cam tracks L128 are generally similar to the upper U-shaped tracks 128, but are reversed therefrom, end-forend, so that the deflecting levers L129 are at the rear ends of the lower U-shaped tracks L128 rather than at their forward ends as is the case in the upper tracks 128.

Each deflecting lever 129 and L129 has a stop pin 133 (Fig. 6) mounted thereon. These pins extend laterally outwardly and ride in arcuate slots 134 provided therefor in the side walls of the tracks 128 and L128, and thereby limit the upward swinging movement of the deflecting levers L129. A standard 135 is provided on the lower lift block L119, the standard having an elongated support portion 137 formed integrally with its upper end.

A rear angularly bent carton engaging strip 138 is secured in longitudinally adjusted position, by screws 139, 139, to the rear end of the upper support portion 137. A second, forward, angularly bent carton engaging strip 140 is similarly secured by screws 141, 141 to the forward end of the support portion 137. These carton engaging elements 1351 and 14h have upwardly extending portions 142 and 143 respectively, of a length to clear the cartons 21a and 21b during each rearward stroke of the carriage block L10. and to be moved upwardly into carton engaging position when the lower lift block L119 is swung upwardly as the rollers L127 ride up the deflecting levers L129 into the upper run of the U-shaped track 112$ during each forward stroke of the lower carriage block L105. The paths of movement of the upwardly bent portions 142 and 143 of the bent strips 138 and 140 during each cycle of operation of the machine are shown in broken lines 138a and 14%, respectively, in Fig. 6.

The position of the throw of the lower carton advancing crank 63 is advanced angularly in its direction of roration relative to that of the upper carton advancing crank 64, so that the upper carton engaging bent strip 101 will be moved into carton engaging position'substantially simultaneously with the lower carton engaging bent strips 138 and 14%. By noting the paths of the bent strips 101, 138 and 140 as indicated by the broken lines defining these paths in Fig. 6, it becomes apparent that the carton engaging point in the cycles of both cranks 64 and 68 will occur after they have been rotated in the direction of the arrows approximately one-half a revolution from their solid line positions in Fig. 6.

Carton ear tucking mechanism The two car tucking members 74, 74 referred to previously herein are similar to but reversed from, each other. Each ear tucking member 74 comprises an upright body plate 144 (Figs. 1, 3 and 6) having a central portion 14 1a thereof (Fig. 6) offset forwardly from the upper and lower portions 5144b and 1440 thereof. Carriage blocks 147 and 148 (Fig. 3) are mounted on the upper and lower ends, respectively, of each upright body plate 144. A pair of roller mounting bars 149, 149 (Figs. 3 and 6) are secured to the under side of the lower carriage block 148, and a pair of support rollers 150, 150 are journaled on ball bearings, not shown, mounted on bolts 151 secured in holes in the bars 149. The rollers 7 150 ride in the grooved tracks 44 provided along the inner faces of the lower transversely extending frame members 39 and 40 referred to previously herein.

A pair of side bearing rollers 152, 152 also are mounted in recesses provided therefor in the upper side of each carriage block 148 to roll along the inner sides of the tracks 44 and thus prevent frictional engagement between the carriage blocks 148 and the tracks 44. Similar support rollers U450 (Fig. 3) and side bearing rollers U-152 also are provided on each upper carriage block 147 in a manner similar to those on the lower carriage block 148.

A can receiving shell 153 of rectangular, horizontal, U-cross-sectional shape is secured by bolts 154 to the rearward face of the offset portion 144a of each upright body plate 144. The lower flange 155 of the shell 153 is aligned with the upper run of each can conveyor belt 85 (Figs. 1 and and a takeoff plate 85a (Fig. 5) of a conventional type guides the cans from the belt into the shell 153.

Each can receiving shell 153 is of a length transversely of the machine to receive a charge of cans consisting of the two foremost cans 87 on each conveyor belt 85. The centrally inner end of each shell 153 (Fig. 9) extends inwardly beyond the charge of cans therein a distance sufficient to mount a pair of tilting carton ear tucking blades 157, 158 (Figs. 3, 6, 7 and 9) in notches 159 and 160 (Figs. 3 and 9) respectively, provided therefore in the top and bottom 155 and 156 respectively (Figs. 5, 7 and 8) of the shell 153. Each of the carton ear engaging blades 157 and 158 is pivotally mounted on a pin 161 mounted on the shell 153, and a leaf spring 162 is mounted to bear against the outer face of each ear tucking blade to urge it inwardly toward the position illustrated in Fig. 3. The blades 157 and 158 are mounted to engage the outer ends of their respective notches 159 (Fig. 3) as a stop at a desired inward limit of tilting movement.

A low wall 163 (Figs. 3 and 9) is provided transversely across the outer end of each shell 153 to engage the outermost can in the shell and to carry it with the shell when the ear tucking member is moved inwardly during an ear tucking operation. The walls 163 are sufficiently low to permit the can inserting rams 72 to clear these walls during a can inserting movement of the rams.

The ear tucking members 74, 74 are actuated by the lower, upright hydraulic cylinder 75 (Fig. 3) referred to previously herein. The piston rod 75a of the cylinder 75 is mounted in the vertical guideway provided therefor by the plate 79 secured to the transverse frame member 77 as described previously herein. A pair of connecting rods 164, 164 are pivotally connected from the upper end of the piston rod 75, one to each of the ear tucking members 74, 74.

Upon each downward actuation of a piston of the hydraulic cylinder 75, the piston rod 75a is moved downwardly and, due to the toggle action of the connecting rods 164, 164, draws the ear tucking members 74, 74 toward each other to move the ear tucking blades 157 and 158 inwardly into the ends of the carton. To retain the next successive pair of cans 87 on each conveyor 85 against advancing while the associated ear tucking member 74 is in its inward or ear tucking position, an outwardly extending flange 165 is provided on the rearward side, and at the outer end of each ear tucking shell 153. As the ear tuckers 74 are moved inwardly on each ear tucking stroke thereof, these flanges 165 close the gap that otherwise would be opened between the outer end of the shell 153 and the inner end of the ram 72, and thus prevent the advance of the next successive pair of cans on the conveyor 85 until the ear tucking members again move outward to their can receiving positions shown in Fig. 3 upon the completion of each ear tucking cycle.

As each charge of cans 87 is driven from its position in the shell 153 (Fig. 7) into the carton 21b by the can inserting rams 72, 72 (Fig. 8) in a manner to be described later herein, the upper and lower ear tucking blades 157 and 158 are swung outwardly away from each other by the incoming charge of cans passing between them. This outward swinging movement of the blades 157, 158 tucks the carton ears tightly against the top and bottom, respectively, of the carton.

The can inserting rams 72, 72 are similar to each other, and one only thereof will be described in detail. Each ram assembly 72 comprises an upright body plate with carriage blocks 171 and 172 secured to the upper and lower ends, respectively, thereof. These carriage blocks are provided with support rollers 173 and side bearing rollers 174 similar to the rollers 150 and 152, respectively, of the carriage blocks 147 and 148 of the ear tucking members 74. The support rollers 173 ride in the same tracks 44 and 45 as the support rollers 150 and U-150 on the ear tucking members 74, and the side bearing rollers 174 also roll along the inner faces of the tracks 44 and 45 similarly to the corresponding rollers 152 on the ear tucking members 74. A stiffening block 175 is welded to the outer face of each upright body plate 170, and a transversely extending post 177 is mounted in an opening provided therefore in an abutment 178 on the outer face of each block 175.

Each ram actuating hydraulic cylinder 71 has the outer end of its piston rod 71a journaled on the post 177 (Figs. 3, 7, 8 and 9). The inner end of the cylinder 71 is connected, by an adjustable fitting 179 and a bolt 180 (Fig. 3) to one of the frame mounted bracket plates 70 described previously herein. The fitting is screwed into a threaded opening provided therefor in the end of the cylinder 71, and a locknut 181 secures the fitting 179 in axially adjusted position in the end of the cylinder 71. For adjusting the cylinder 71 axially of the fitting 179, the bolt 180 may be removed, the locknut 181 may be loosened, and the threaded fitting 179 may be screwed into or out of the cylinder as required.

A ram arm 182 is secured by screws 183 to extend horizontally inwardly from the inner face of each of the upright body plates 170 in line with ,the center of the U-shaped ear tucker shell 153 on the same side of the machine. A curved ram plate 184 is secured on the inner end of each ram arm 182. Each ram plate 184 is curved cylindrically to conform to the sides of the cans engaged thereby, and is positioned at a height to clear the low wall 163 across the outer end of the lower flange 155 of the can receiving shell 153 of each ear tucker 74.

Ear tucker support wings 185 and 186 are mounted to extend horizontally outwardly from the upper and lower ends, respectively, of each curved ram plate 184. These wings 185 and 186 engage the ear tucking blades 157 and 158 as the rams propel their charges of cans between these blades and into a carton, and thus prevent the ear tucking blades 157 and 158 from becoming hooked onto the upper or lower ends of the ram plates 184 at their inward limits of movement.

A pair of can restraining bars 188, 188 are mounted to extend horizontally along the rear side of each ram arm 182, with the rear edges of these restraining bars in line with the rear edge of the curved ram plate 184 mounted on said arm. These bars 188 engage each next successive row of cans on the conveyor 88 as the rams are advanced inwardly to drive the charges of cans in the shells 153, 153 into the open ends of a carton in the can receiving position 211) of Fig. 6. These bars 188 thus arrest and restrain the foremost cans on the conveyor from entering outwardly of the curved ram plates 184. Such cans otherwise might become jammed and thus interfere with the return stroke of the rams 72.

The inward, or can inserting, stroke of each ram 72 is arrested at a point which will bring the charge of cans advanced thereby into the carton 21 and in contact with the innermost can inserted by the other ram, with the two charges of cans centered in the carton. Each ram is arrested at its desired inward limit of movement by the air cushioned impact of the piston (not shown) on the inner end of the cylinder 71, in a well known manner. Adjustment of this inward limit of ram movement may be made by threaded adjustment of the fitting 179 on the inner ends of the ram actuating cylinders 71 in the manner described previously herein.

Operation of the upright cylinder 75 which actuates the ear tucking members 74, 74 is controlled by a cartoncontrolled switch 1557 (Figs. 1, 3 and 6). The switch 187 has an actuating arm 18% positioned to be engaged by each carton as it is moved into can-receiving position 21b (Fig. 6) to actuate the switch 187. The switch 187 is connected, by means of conventional electrical wiring, not shown, through conventional time delay relay means, also not shown, to a conventional two-way solenoid valve 189 (Fig. 1). in its normal, unactuated position, the valve 139 directs compressed air through a hose 191 opening into the lower end of the ear tucker actuating cylinder 75 (Fig. 3) and communicates a hose 190 opening into the upper end of phere.

Upon each closure of the carton actuated switch 187, the time delay relay means is operated at once to actuate the valve 139 to admit compressed air into the upper hose 199, and simultaneously to open to the atmosphere the lower hose 191. This drives the piston rod 75a downward and thereby, by means of the toggle links 164, 164

draws the ear tuckers 74, 74 inwardly to their ear tucking,

position shown in Fig. 7. The time delay relay means is timed to hold the valve 189 in this actuated condition during a predetermined time interval sufiicient for the rams to operate, and then, at the end of such interval, to return to its normal, unactuated condition, and thereby release the valve 189 for return to its normal condition.

For actuating the can inserting rams 72, '72, in coordinated relation to the ear tuckers 74, 74, a pair of cam controlled switches 192 and 193 (Figs. 1 and 3) are mounted one on each of the upper lefthand transverse frame members 41 and 42. These ram actuating switches 192 and 19.3 have downwardly extending switch actuating arms 194 and 195, respectively, mounted thereon. Rollers 196 are journaled in the lower ends of the switch arms 194 and 195. Both of the ear tucker actuated switches 192 and 193 are spring pressed toward a normal open condition, and are closed when their respective switch arms 194 and 195 are actuated by engagement with abutment cams 197 and 198 (Fig. 3) respectively.

The abutments 197 and 198 are mounted on the lefthand upper ear tucker carriage block 144. The inner abutment cam 193 is positioned to engage its switch actuating arm 195 as the ear tuckers 74 approach their inward limit of movement, while the outer abutment cam 197 is positioned to engage its switch actuating arm 194 as the ear tuckers 74 return to their outward limit of movement.

The switches 192 and 193 are connected, by means of conventional electrical wiring, not shown, to a conventional solenoid operated compressed air valve 199 (Fig. 1). Upon the closing of the inner switch 193 by the abutment cam 198 as the ear tuckers 74, 74 approach their inward limit of movement as shown in Fig. 7, compressed air is admitted through hoses 200, 2% (Figs. 1 and 3) into the outer ends of both ram actuating cylinders 71, 71, at the same time opening to the atmosphere hoses 291, 2 11 which communicate with the inner ends of the ram operating cylinders. This drives the rams 72, '72 inward to insert the two charges of cans in the ear tucker shells 153, 153 into opposite ends of the carton which is then in the position 2112 in Fig. 6.

Upon the closing of the outer switch 192 by the abutment cam 197 as the ear tuckers approach their outermostv positions on their return strokes, the solenoid acsaid cylinder 75 with the atmos-- tuated valve 199, is thereby reversed to admit compressed air through the hoses 201, 201 to the inner ends of the ram actuating cylinders 71 and at the same time to communicate the hoses 200, 200 which open into the outer ends of the cylinders 71, 71 with the atmosphere. This returns the rams 72, 72 to their outward or normal positions as shown in Fig. 3.

Upon completion of each ear tucking and can inserting cycle of operation, the ear tucking members 74, 74 and the rams 72, 72 will remain in their outward positions shown in Fig. 3 until the next successive carton 21 is advanced into can receiving position as indicated at 21b in Fig. 6 to again engage the switch arm 188a to close the carton actuated switch 188 and thereby to initiate the next successive ear tucking and can inserting cycle of operation.

This arrangement insures that the ear tucking blades 157 and 158 will be fully inserted into the ends ofthe carton before the charges of cans are driven therein by the rams 72, 72, and that the ear tucking blades will be fully withdrawn from the filled carton, permitting the carton cars 2110 (Figs 2 and 4) of the carton to spring inwardly into locking engagement with the chimes of the end cans in the carton before the retaining pressure of the rams on the outermost cans is removed by the return of the rams to their outward position.

Operation The operation of the illustrated form of the invention is as follows:

The carton magazine 20 is filled with flat folded cartons 21 with the bottom forming portion of each carton underneath and toward the forward end of the magazine. A supply of filled and labeled cans 87 then is provided for each of the can conveyors 85, 85. The cans may be Supplied to the conveyors either by conventional conveyors, not shown, or manually, as desired.

A supply of compressed air from a suitable source, such as a compressor, not shown, is supplied to the air valves 189 and 199, and the drive mechanism, including the shafts, gears and chains shown in Fig. 6 and described previously herein, is operated to advance the cans toward the forward ends of the conveyors 85, 35. Simultaneously, a plurality of cartons 21 are withdrawn successively from the bottom of the stack (not shown) thereof in the carton magazine 20 in the manner described in my copending application, Serial No. 257,057, and are propelled in erected condition along the carton guideway 22.

During this initial phase of operation, and at least until the foremost carton has been advanced into the position 21b of Fig. 6, the carton actuated switch 187 preferably remains deenergized. As the foremost carton 21 in the carton guideway 22 is advanced by a pair of carton advancing fingers 23 and 24 to the end of the carton guideway 20 it is pushed beyond the reach of these fingers as they swing upwardly and downwardly respectively around their sprockets 29 and 3d, depositing the carton in the position 21a of Fig. 6. The pawls 38 and 97 retain the carton in the position 2111 against collapse toward its flat folded condition in the magazine 20.

As the carton reaches the position 21a of Fig. 6, the portions 101a and 143 of the carton advancing pawl mechanisms 43 and 46 move into carton engaging position with the rear side of the carton and advance the carton into the position 21b of Fig. 6

For the purpose of the present description, the positions of the various parts of the mechanism which advance the cartons from their position 21a (Fig. 6) to their position 21b may be considered as their starting positions for a cycle of Operation. However, the crank shafts 64 and 68 which operate this carton advancing mechanism rotate continuously and at a constant rate of speed during operation of the machine. As mentioned previously: herein, the rate of rotation of the crank shafts 64 '11 and 68 is in predetermined timed relation with that of the carton advancing drive sprockets 29 and 30 so that the crank shafts 64 and 68 rotate one complete revolution as each successive pair of carton advancing fingers 23 and 24 pass a given point. From the designated starting position shown in Fig. 6, as the crank shafts 64 and 68 rotate in the direction of the arrows, the connecting links 109 and L109 from the crank shafts 64 and 68 to the carriage blocks 105 and L105 are moved rearwardly, thereby drawing their respective carriage blocks 105 and L105 rearwardly along the cam tracks 128 and L128. As the lower carriage L105 approaches the rearward end of its travel, the roller L127 on the lower lift block L119 engages the pivotally mounted lever L129, to swing it upwardly to the broken line position shown in Fig. 6 and to allow the roller L127 to pass therebeneath.

As the roller L127 passes beyond the lever L129, the lever again swings downwardly to its solid line position shown in Fig. 6. As the carriage L105 then moves forwardly on its forward stroke, the roller L127 rides upwardly on the lever L129, moving the two bent, carton engaging strips 138 and 140 upwardly along the dash-dot lines 138a and 140a of Fig. 6 and through the various broken line position indicated thereon.

As the upwardly bent ends of the strips 138 and 140 are swung upwardly and are advanced to a position behind the standby carton 21a and the filled carton 21b, they engage the cartons and move them forwardly, advancing the filled carton from the position 21b forwardly on to the take-off belts 31, 31 (Figs. 1 and 9) and moving the rearward carton from the position 21a forwardly into the can receiving position 21b.

To prevent rearward collapse of the empty carton during its advance from the position 21a to the position 21b, the upper carton engaging bent strip 101 engages the rear side of the upper end of the empty carton during such advance. As the upper carriage 105 is drawn rearwardly by the link 109, the roller 127 on the lift block 119 rides upwardly on the lever 129 which then is in the position illustrated in Fig. 6. As the lift block is tilted in a counterclockwise direction, by the movement of the roller upwardly along the lever 129, the plate 124 on the lift block, by its engagement with the notch 123 in the lift rod 104 elevates the strip support 103 and the strip 101 mounted therebeneath.

The strip support and bent strip 101 follow rearwardly along the upper portion of the path 101a shown in Fig. 6, which elevates the bent strip 101 above the carton in the standby position 21. As the bent strip 101 reaches its rearmost position illustrated by the broken lines in Fig. 6, the roller 127 on the lift block 119 travels downwardly around the rear bight of the cam track 128, thereby lowering the lift rod and the bent strip 101 carried thereby.

As the carriage 105 moves forwardly on its return to its starting point shown in Fig. 6, the downwardly bent end of the bent strip 101 travels along the lower portion of the path 101a, engaging the upper end of the empty standby carton in the position 21a at substantially the same time that the rear upwardly bent portion 142 of the strip 138 of the lower carton advancing mechanism engages this same carton. The two bent strips 101 and 138 then act together to advance the empty carton from the position 21a to the position 21b of Fig. 6. As the upper cam follower rollers 127 engage the levers 129 on the forward stroke of the carriage 105, the rollers cam the levers 129 upwardly in the same manner as that described previously herein for the lower levers L129.

Before each successive erected carton is deposited by the carton propelling fingers in the position 21a of Fig. 6, the carton advancing members 101 and 138 will have advanced the next preceding carton from the position 21a to the can receiving position 21b and the member 140 will have simultaneously advanced the filled carton from the position 21b onto the take-off belts.

' Upon initially starting up the machine as described previously herein, to insure that a supply of cans will be ready for insertion in a carton upon actuation of the ram-actuating carton controlled switch 187, it is recommended that the carton actuated switch 187 remain deenergized until one or two empty cartons have passed entirely through the machine onto the take-off belts 31, 31 and the foremost cans advanced by the can conveyor belts 85, are properly located in the can receiving shells 153, 153 of the ear tucking members 74, 74. For this purpose, a conventional manually controlled switch, not shown, may be connected in series with the carton controlled switch 187.

With the machine thus operating, upon energizing the switch 187, as each succeeding carton 21 arrives at the position 21b and raises the switch lever 187a to close the switch 187, the air valve 189 is actuated thereby to admit compressed air through the upper hose to admit compressed air to the upper end of the vertical air cylinder 75 and thereby actuate the cylinder to move the ear tuckers 74, 74 inwardly. The inward movement of the ear tuckers moves the ear tucking blades 157 and 158 into the ends of the carton and tucks the carton ears 21c inwardly into the carton as shown in Fig. 7. The ear tucking blades 157 and 158 are of a width, when fully inserted in the carton 21, to engage the sides of the carton and thereby insure that the carton will be accurately positioned when the charges of cans are driven into the open ends thereof.

As the ear tucking members 74, 74 are moved inwardly by the action of the cylinder 75, the laterally extending flange 165 on the outer end of each ear tucker shell 153 restrains the foremost pair of cans on each of the conveyor belts 85, 85 which otherwise would tend to move ahead with the possibility of becoming jammed between the outer'end of the ear tucker 74 and the curved ram plate 184 when these members returned to normal position on their outward strokes.

As the ear tuckers 74, 74 approach their inward limit of movement, the roller 196 (Fig. 3) on the inner switch arm rides onto the inner cam abutment 198 to close the inner ram-actuating switch 193. Closure of the switch 193 actuates the air valve 199 (Fig. 1) to admit compressed air through the hoses 200, 200 to the outer ends of the ram cylinders 71, 71. This drives the rams 72, 72 inwardly, the curved ram plates 184 embracing the outer sides of the outer-most cans in the ear tucker shells 153, 153 and driving the charges of the cans in both ear tucker shells 153 into the open ends of the carton in its can receiving position 21b of Fig. 6.

As each curved ram plate 184 is carried inwardly across the forward end of its associated can conveyor 85, the horizontal can restraining bars 188, 188 secured to the rear side of each ram arm 182 are carried across the forward end of the conveyor to restrain the next successive pair of cans on the conveyor against forward movement into the space which otherwise would exist beyond the outer side of the ram plate 184.

As the two charges of cans are driven into the open ends of the carton, they pass between the ear tucking blades 157 and 158 (Figs. 3, 7 and 8) which guide the cans into the carton.

The entrance of the cans into the carton swings the ear tucking blades 157 and 158 apart, carrying the carton ears 210 with them to hold the carton ears tightly against the top and bottom, respectively, of the carton. The ear tuckers 74, 74 are caused, by the time delay means mentioned previously herein, to dwell in their innermost position for a time interval suflicient to allow the rams 72, 72 to drive the charges of cans home in the carton.

Completion of the cycle of the time delay relay, not shown, in a usual manner, restores the air valve 189 to its normal condition, and thereby admits compressed air to the line 191 intothelower end of the upright. ear tucker: actuating cylinder 75 (Fig. 3') while at the same time.

venting the line 190; into the upper end of this cylinder'to the atmosphere. This reverse actuation of the ear tucker actuating cylinder 75 returns the ear tuckers 74, 74 to.-

ward theiroutward position shown in Fig. 3, the rams 72,

72 meanwhile remaining in their inward or can retain,- ingposition. This insures that the cans will be held securely in the carton until the ear tucking blades 157 and 158- have been fully withdrawn from the carton to free the carton. ears to spring inwardly into locking engagement with the chimes. of the endmost cans in the carton.

As the ear tuckers '74, 74 approach their outward position, thev outer abutment cam 197 engages the outer switch arm 194 (Fig. 3) thereby closing the outer switch 192' and. actuating the air valve 199 (Fig. 1) to admit compressed air to the hoses 201, 201 communicating with the inner ends of the ram actuating cylinders 71, 71 and to vent the hoses 200, 200 to the atmosphere. This returns the rams 72, 72 to their outward positions shown in Fig. 3, and completes a cycle of operation.

The particular type of chime lock carton used is not essential to the present invention since there are several types of chime lock cartons all of which, with slight adjustments or modification of the mechanism such as would be apparent to a skilled mechanic familiar with the art, may be handled and filled by means of my present invention. Although particularly useful for use with chime lock cartons, the present invention may also be used to fill other open end cartons even though they may not be of the chime lock type.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood however, that various changes and. modifications may be made in the details thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thusv described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for filling open ended chime lock cartons with chime end cans and having a can receiving station therein, a continuously moving conveyor for positioning an erected carton with its open ends directed laterally in a standby position removed from the can receiving station in said machine, carton advancing means mounted independently of the conveyor to move in recurring cycles and having a portion thereof positioned to engage a carton in the standby position and to move such carton into the can receiving station, can inserting means mounted to insert a charge of cans into each end of a carton inthe can receiving station, to inter-engage a chime end of the outermost cans with a chime lock carton element, and drive means actuated by the movement of a carton into the can receiving station to actuate the can inserting means.

2. In a machine for filling open ended cartons with cans and having a can receiving station therein, means for positioning an erected carton. in a standby position removed from the can receiving station in said machine, a cam track mounted adjacent the can receiving station, carton advancing means mounted to move in recurring cycles back and forth along said cam track, said carton advancing means having a portion thereof positioned to engage a carton in the standby position upon a movement of the carton advancing means in one direction along said cam track to move such carton into the can receiving station, and to clear a carton in the standby position upon a movement of the carton advancing means in the other direction, can inserting means mounted to insert a charge of cans into a carton in the can receiving station, and drive means actuated by the movement of a carton into the can receiving station to actuate the can inserting means.

3. In a machine for inserting cans in an openeended carton, said machine having: a standby position, and. a cam-receiving station therein, means; for delivering empty erected, cartons at. a. predetermined rate; successively to;

the; standby, position, a pair; of carton advancing membersxmounted to move in recurring cycles to engage a.

carton: in. the standby position and to move it into the can. receiving station, drive means moving in timed T613". tion with. the means. for delivering the. cartons to they standby position. for driving the carton advancing. members in timed relation. therewith, and. means mounted. to. move the carton advancing members out of engagement with each carton as it. arrives. at the can receiving station.

4. Ina machine for inserting chime end cans in an, openended, chime-lock carton, said machine having a standby position and a can receiving station therein, conveyor means; for delivering empty erected cartons along a predetermined path at a predetermined rate successively to: the standby position, carton advancing means mounted; tomovein recurring cycles along a difi'erent path from said conveyor means. to engage a carton in the standby position and to move it into the can receiving station, and drive means moving in timed relation with the conveyor means for delivering the cartons to the standby position for driving the carton advancing means in timed relation: therewith.

5. In a machine for inserting chime end cans in an open-ended chime lock carton, said machine having a standby position and a can receiving station therein, means for delivering empty erected cartons at a predetermined ratesuccessively to the standby position, a carton advancing member mounted adjacent the can receiving station, track means mounted to guide said carton ad vancing. member in recurring cycles about an elongated. oval path to engage a carton in the standby position and to'moveit into the can receiving station, drive means.

moving in timed. relation with the means for advancing the cartons to the standby position for driving the carton advancing member in timed relation therewith, and cam means mounted. at a'predetermined point along said path to move the carton advancing means relative to a carton in the can receiving station.

6. Ina machine for filling open-ended cartons with cans, said machine having a standby position and a can receiving station therein, means for delivering erected: cartons at timed intervals into the standby position, carton advance means mounted to move in recurring cycles from they standby position. toward the can receiving station, a stationary cam track mounted adjacent said carton advance means, a tilting block mounted on said carton advance means, a camfollowcr carried by said tilting block and in following engagement with said cam track, and a carton engaging. element carried by said tilting block for movement into carton engaging position as the carton advance means moves from the standby position toward the can receiving station.

7. An arrangement according to. claim 6 wherein the cam follower comprises a roller journaled on the tilting block.

8'. In a machine for filling open-ended cartons with cans, said. machine having a standby position and a can receiving station therein, means for delivering erected cartons at timed intervals into the standby position, carton advance means mounted to move in recurring cycles from the standby position toward the can receiving station, a stationary horizontally elongated double run cam track mounted adjacent said carton advance means, a tilting block mounted on said carton advance means, a cam follower carried by said tilting block and having rolling engagement with said cam track, a pawl at one end of said cam track to elevate the cam follower from one run of said track to the other, and a carton engaging member supported by said tilting block for movement into carton engaging position as the carton advance means moves along a predetermined run of said track from the standby position toward the can receiving station.

9. In a carton filling machine having a can inserting station therein, carton feed means mounted to feed and release erected empty cartons at successive predetermined time intervals into standby position removed from the can inserting station, a track mounted independently of the carton feed means extending in the direction from the standby position toward the can inserting station, carton advancing means mounted to move along said track, drive means mounted to drive said carton advancing means back and forth in recurring cycles along said track in timed relation with the feeding of successive cartons into the standby position, a carton engaging element mounted on said carton advancing means to engage each carton as it is fed into the standby position and to advance such carton to the can inserting station, can inserting means mounted to insert a charge of cans into the carton in the can receiving station, and drive means operating in timed relation with said advancing means to actuate said can inserting means to insert a charge of cans into each carton in the can receiving station.

10. In a machine for filling chime lock cartons having chime engaging ears thereon, a can inserting station in said machine, carton feed means mounted to feed erected empty cartons at successive predetermined time intervals into standby position removed from the can inserting station, a horizontal U-shaped cam track in said machine, a deflecting lever mounted at the open end of the U-shaped track, carton advancing means mounted for movement lengthwise of said track, reciprocating drive means mounted to drive said carton advancing means in recurring cycles lengthwise of said track in timed relation with the feeding of successive cartons into the standby position, a cam follower mounted on said carton advancing means to ride in said track to engage said deflecting lever on each cycle of operation of the carton advancing means for deflection of the cam follower into an upper run of said track, said follower dropping by gravity into the lower run of said track at the opposite end thereof from said lever, a carton engaging element mounted on said carton advancing means to engage each carton as it is fed into the standby position to advance such carton to the can inserting station, ear tucking means mounted to tuck the ears of each carton in the can inserting station into the carton, can inserting means mounted to insert a charge of cans into the carton in the can receiving station, and drive means operating in timed relation with the carton advancing means to actuate said ear tucker and said can inserting means in sequence, the ear tucking means completing a predetermined portion of each operation thereof prior to actuation of the can inserting mechanism.

11. In a machine for filling open end chime lock cartons with chime end cans, means for positioning successive cartons in erected condition in can receiving position in said machine, can aligning means mounted endwise beyond a carton in can receiving position in said machine, said can aligning means being movable toward and away from the open end of a carton in carton receiving position in said machine, drive control means operated by a carton upon movement thereof into can receiving position, can

1 5 aligner driver means actuated by said control means to move said can aligning means toward the open end of said carton, a ram mounted endwise beyond said can aligning means and movable toward and away from said carton, and ram drive means actuated by the movement of the can aligning means toward the carton to actuate said ram to force a charge of cans from the can aligning means into a carton in can receiving position in said machine.

12. Mechanism according to claim 11 wherein a pair of ear tucker plates are pivotally mounted on the inner end of said can aligning means for entrance into a carton upon movement of the can aligner toward the open end of said carton.

13. In a machine for filling chime lock cartons with chime end cans, means for feeding successive cartons at timed intervals into standby position in said machine, means acting in timed relation with said carton feed means to advance each carton from standby position to can receiving position in said machine, control means mounted for actuation by each carton at a predetermined point in its path of movement toward can receiving position in the machine, a can receiver mounted endwise beyond an open end of a carton in can receiving position in said machine to receive and align a charge of cans therein, an ear tucking element mounted to extend from the can receiver toward a carton in can receiving position in said machine, drive means mounted for actuation by said carton actuated control means to move the can receiver with a charge of cans therein toward the open end of a carton in can receiving position in said machine, a ram mounted beyond the can receiver from a carton in can receiving position in the machine, and ram control means mounted in the path of movement of an element of the can receiver for actuation by a movement of the receiver toward the carton, thereby to actuate said ram to drive the charge of cans in the can receiver into the carton.

14. In a machine for filling chime lock cartons with chime end cans, means for feeding successive cartons at timed intervals into can receiving position in said machine, control means mounted for actuation by each carton in can receiving position in the machine, can aligning means mounted endwise beyond a carton in can receiving position in said machine to align a charge of cans therein, an ear tucking element mounted between the can aligning means and a carton in can receiving position in said machine, drive means mounted for actuation by said carton actuated control means to move the ear tucking element into the open end of a carton in can receiving position in said machine, a ram mounted beyond the can aligning means from a carton in can receiving position in the machine, and ram operating means mounted in the path of the ear tucking element in a movement thereof toward the carton for actuation of the ram a predetermined time interval after the actuation of the ear tucking element, thereby to drive the charge of cans past the ear tucking element into the carton.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

